As more parents continue to make the transition to homeschooling, choosing the right curriculum for their child and family has become a top priority. There are so many factors to consider when shopping for the right homeschool curriculum. Is the curriculum student-paced and flexible? Is it a core academic curriculum or supplemental resource? Does it include free planning, grading, and reporting tools? And, finally, is the curriculum affordable? If you’re new to homeschooling, you may not even know what your options are, or what to look for. As you evaluate your options, refer to this homeschool curriculum checklist to help you make an informed decision.
Homeschool Curriculum Comparison Checklist
Student-Paced
Students complete their work on their own time and at their own pace. They can go back and repeat material until they achieve mastery before moving on to the next lesson. OR
Program-Paced
School work is completed based on a set schedule. Students move through lessons whether mastery of a subject is completed or not. |
Comprehensive Curriculum
The homeschool curriculum provider offers the core subjects – math, language arts, science, and social studies – and can be a one-stop-shop for parents and students. OR
Supplemental Curriculum
The curriculum provider often specializes in particular subjects and is used in conjunction with other curricula. |
Independent Learning
The curriculum includes automated instruction making it possible for students to learn their lessons with limited involvement from their homeschool teacher. OR
Homeschool Teacher-Led Curriculum
The curriculum is created with the intention of the lesson’s instruction being delivered by the homeschool teacher. |
Online Curriculum
The curriculum lessons and quizzes are delivered on the computer typically using a web-based program accessible 24/7 with internet access. OR
Textbook/Workbook
The lessons and quizzes are delivered in hard copy format. They typically come with a teacher’s guide to enable homeschool teachers to teach the lessons. |
Automated Grading
Common with online curricula, the student’s lessons and quizzes are graded automatically without homeschool teacher involvement. OR
Manual Grading
Typically the homeschool teacher will review the lessons and quizzes for their homeschooler. |
Consider Affordability and Flexibility
Cost is always an important factor to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum. Time4Learning members pay a low monthly membership fee and there are no contracts. Our month-to-month billing option is convenient and gives you the option to start, stop, and pause at any time. This frees you from paying an exorbitant price up front or being locked into a long-term contract. You can also take advantage of our 14-day money-back guarantee so you have nothing to lose.
Finding a flexible curriculum that allows you to customize your child’s learning should also be top-of-mind. Some programs may lock you into a specific grade level and a demanding schedule for an entire year. It’s important to find a curriculum that gives your child the freedom and flexibility to learn at their pace and that maximizes their strengths while helping them improve on more challenging areas. Time4Learning’s self-paced curriculum allows your child to work on different grades and even change levels at any time.
Time4Learning’s Online Curriculum Benefits
Time4Learning is an online PreK-12 curriculum that teaches math, language arts, science, and social studies, and includes a year’s worth of material that can be used as your core curriculum or in conjunction with other programs. Members have 24/7 access to the curriculum, and with no schedules to follow, they can log in and learn on their time, even on weekends.
The simple-to-follow format is perfect for independent learning and helps students gain confidence as they progress at their own pace. Students even have the ability to redo lessons and activities, as well as retake tests and quizzes. Since every child learns differently and has their own unique abilities, Time4Learning allows students to work in different grade levels by subject in order to help them take their time on more challenging topics and quickly progress on subjects they are more comfortable with.
As a parent, you’ll be able to easily keep track of your child’s progress with our automated grading and recordkeeping features that save you time. You also have access to detailed lesson plans that keep you up to date on what your child is learning. Your Parent Dashboard even includes printable worksheets, spelling word lists, and activity planners. Read about our surprising member benefits designed to help you homeschool with confidence.
We hope our curriculum checklist is helpful as you explore the many wonderful lifelong benefits of homeschooling.
Hello, I moved to Puerto Rico in October ‘23 and my kids have not started school, is it possible to start them with T4L? And have them finish by the time schools in PR are over?
HI Angelice! You are able to join Time4Learning at any time! If you are using it for homeschooling, you will need to follow the homeschooling laws for Puerto Rico once you arrive. While we’re not certain when PR schools get out for the school year, with Time4Learning, you are able to set your preferred start and end dates. If you choose to create a detailed planner via the tool in your parent account, you can additionally select the amount of material you want your student to cover during that time frame. Best wishes on your upcoming move! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Are you accredited school to the school system can you please give me a call at ***-***-**** my name is Sabrina.
Hi Sabrina! Thank you for reaching out! Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, we cannot be accredited. Accreditation applies only to schools. This article helps explain more about accreditation — including how it relates to homeschooling! https://www.time4learning.com/blog/category/tips-worksheets/do-i-need-accredited-homeschool-program/ We are happy to help answer any questions you may have! Visit our “Contact Us” link posted below and scroll down for our available hours. We look forward to speaking with you soon! https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
Hello..Am in Kenya and would like my child to begin homeschooling through this curriculum. Ideally she will be switching from the Kenyan system, Will it be a challenge for her? Also will she manage to join school within Kenya or abroad when in high school or college?
Thank you for reaching out Anysia! While our curriculum is U.S. based, you will find we have members from throughout the U.S. and worldwide. If using our program for homeschooling, you will need to follow the homeschooling laws for your area including meeting the requirements for transitioning back to your high school system. Within the U.S., most colleges and universities accept and even welcome homeschool students. You will need to check with the college admissions requirements for those in your area. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and your family!
My son is 11 he is autistic. I want him to start home school next school year. Does T4L have a ESE curriculum?
Hi Claudia! While we do not have a separate program, the design and flexibility available with our program have helped us earn the designation as a certified autism resource! With Time4Learning you will be able to create the perfect custom-fit education for your child’s unique needs. You can determine the schedule that works best for your student, take breaks as needed, repeat lessons, and even adjust the grade level for each subject individually. The link below provides more details. We’d love to have you give us a try! No long-term contracts are required and we offer a 14-day money-back guarantee. Please reach out if you have additional questions. We’re happy to help! https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/autism/
Hello! My son would be finishing his senior year as a homeschool student. How would we go about gaining his high school diploma with Time4Learning?
Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, we are unable to issue a diploma. When using our program for homeschooling, however, parents serve as the teacher of record with the ability to assign grades, issue high school credits, complete a high school transcript, and even award a high school diploma according to the homeschooling laws of your state. Within your Time4Learning parent account “Manage Students” section, you will find free templates with step-by-step instructions for both high school transcripts and diplomas! Congratulations to your soon-to-be graduate! Please reach out again if you have additional questions!
I am a teacher at a private school. If I have a student with dyslexia that I believe needs help and am unsure of his true grade level. Does T4L have an assessment of somekind to use?
Hi Stacy, thanks for visiting our blog! Because Time4Learning is so flexible, we don’t currently have any placement assessments. Please know however, that parents can adjust grade levels for each subject if needed, and can make changes as often as necessary. Students are never locked into a particular subject/grade level.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
My daughter is in 8th grade but takes a few advanced classes which are high school level. Would I sign her up for the 8th grade curriculum and how would i get her set up to take the high school classes(Algebra 1).
Hi Robert! You can choose to place her in the PreK-8 membership, and assign her 8th grade classes except for Algebra I. Alternatively, you can sign up her up for the high school membership where you have access to all high school level courses as well as 8th grade language arts and math, and middle school science and social studies.
If you need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team. https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
Hello, Do you offer AP classes?
Hi Heather. Thanks for your interest! We don’t currently AP classes. Here is more information about our high school curriculum: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/high-school.html
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team if we can answer any additional questions for you! https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
I’m just starting my son is in 11 grade he is special needs program with IEP how do I pick his course and include his IEP if I can is there IEP included in homeschooling where do I go to keep him in his IEP courses
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for stopping by our blog. Many states and school districts will honor IEPs that were in place before you began homeschooling. Many will work with homeschoolers to establish IEP services. You just need to check with your school board about receiving the services in the IEP.
Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, we don’t provide services specific to an IEP. However, you can choose any courses within our curriculum, making sure to customize it to his skill level.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team if you have additional questions or would like help getting started! https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
Is this accredited? Or will I need other supplements
Hi there! This question is one of the most common ones we receive. The short answer is ‘no,’ but the longer answer is worth understanding. Accreditation is a form of credentialing that applies to schools. Accreditation addresses issues such as teacher: student ratios, number of computers in the media center, number of teachers holding advanced degrees, the curriculum used, etc. Because Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us. However, the curriculum offered by Time4Learning is used at many accredited schools across the United States, and it is educationally rigorous. Read our post to understand more about how accreditation works for homeschoolers: https://www.time4learning.com/blog/category/tips-worksheets/do-i-need-accredited-homeschool-program/
As far as supplementing, that really depends on your student’s interest/needs, and any subject or credit requirement in your state’s homeschooling laws. You can double check the homeschool requirements in your state here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/by-state.html
Hope that helps! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started. https://www.time4learning.com/contact-us/
Does the program only offer social studies, math, science ,and language arts or does it have other electives that can be chosen for Instance art, health, music ex. that can be add to the learning.
Hi Olga, thank you for your interest! PreK-8th grade covers the core subjects, while our high school curriculum offers 14 elective options, in addition to the core subjects. You can view those course descriptions here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/high-school-electives.html
Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any additional questions! 🙂 https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi. My kids are in 6th and 8th FLVS and they are having a very hard time with it. There is only one month left in this school year and I was wondering if I can just take them out now and start T4L?
Hi Tracy. Thanks for your interest! Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, and parents have total control, you can start whenever you’re ready! 🙂
Here is some information about our middle school curriculum: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/middle-school.html
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team if you have questions or need help getting started. https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi. For 6th Grade classes are there quizzes after each lesson and tests after each chapter, etc.?
Hi Elana, thanks for your interest! Not all subjects have chapter tests, but yes there are quizzes after activities/at the end of units. You can learn more about our 6th grade curriculum here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/sixth-grade.html
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have additional questions or if we can help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
For a high school student with disabilities who is at an elementary or middle school learning level, would the membership price be according to the grade the student is in or the materials/curriculum level they are at?
Hi Leah, thanks for your interest! Pricing depends on the grade level courses you place your student in. If your student won’t be taking any high school level courses, you would sign up as a K-8 student. You can set each subject at a different grade level, tailoring the curriculum to your child’s needs. Once you’re ready to place them in some high school courses, you could then convert to a high school membership. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have additional questions! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Since adobe flash is no longer supported and the lessons require it to be able to work, will there be an update to platform?
Hi Cody! Thanks for reaching out! We have converted all of our flash based content, so everything should work normally for you! If you do find an activity that appears to be flash based, please forward that to our customer support team so they can investigate. 🙂 https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I need only 1 class, science for my 8th grader, is it possible to just take one class?
Hi! Time4Learning’s low monthly membership includes language arts, math, science, and social studies. You can pick and choose what parts of our curriculum you use, and you aren’t locked into anything and you only pay for the months you use it. Hope that helps! Definitely feel free to reach out to us if we can answer additional questions or help you get started. https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi! Is this program only for Americans or can other nationalities apply worldwide?
Hello! Thanks for your interest. While our curriculum is aligned to educational standards in the U.S., we have members from all over the world that use our curriculum successfully! You can sign up and get started whenever you’re ready: https://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I’m in Texas and want to homeschool my 2nd and 6th graders. Is there a grade in which it starts or can My 2nd grader start now? I’ve seen a few websites that state 3rd-12th in Texas. I want to make sure before withdrawing them traditional school.
I’m in Texas also. Most of the 3-12 you see are the public online school options. My 5th and 7th graders are in one of the public online schools, and my K and 2nd graders use timeforlearning and addition resources. It’s really a lot less stressful, as you can adjust it to suit your child’s needs and use your own extra resources to suit each child. I am leaning towards switching my older two over after summer.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience, Sondra! We’re happy to hear that Time4Learning is less stressful for you and your students. 🙂
Hi! Thanks for your interest! Time4Learning is a curriculum, not a school, so there are no enrollment periods or requirements. You can sign up and get started whenever you’re ready! 🙂 Our online curriculum is for PreK – 12th grade. Here is a page with more information about homeschooling in TX, if you need it. https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/texas/
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi! I’m 90% sure that I’m going to sign my 6th grader up for time4learning. I heard from another local homeschooler that you use the edgenuity program. Is this correct? If so, I think that my decision will be made!
Hi Kristi, thanks for your interest! Yes, for our middle school science and social studies courses, and all of our high school courses, Edgenuity is one of our curriculum partners! 🙂
I am a certified teacher and I will be homeschooling a group of 6 to 10 students. Would I be given a price break for this group or would it be the 19.95 per month per child?
Hi! Pricing depends on the grade level of your students:
For PreK to 8th grade, the monthly membership cost is $19.95 for the first student and $14.95 for each additional student.
For high school, the monthly membership cost is $30 per student, and includes 4 courses. Additional courses may be purchased for an extra $5 per month, per course. If you have one student at the high school level, you will receive a discounted rate of $14.95 for a student in the lower grades; there is no discounted rate for a second student who is at the high school membership level.
Please feel free to reach out to our customer support team if you have additional questions! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I’m am considering Time 4 Learning to start homeschooling my 7th & 8th grader. Do you give the option to retake a quiz or test if they do not perform well?
Hi Melissa. Thanks for your interest! Yes, students can retake quizzes and tests as often as they need. We offer parents customized reports, so you can generate reports based on average scores, most recent scores, or highest scores. 🙂
If you have additional questions or would like help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
How do I change from a core curriculum to a supplement curriculm?
Hi Jacob! The subjects and activities don’t change, so you’ll simply use the parts that you’d like, when/as you need them. 🙂
Can this be accessed from a tablet in an App format or just in a browser?
Hi Dani! For the best user experience, we recommend using a desktop, laptop, or chromebook with the chrome or firefox browser. We don’t have an app, but some tablets run the program with no issues. Here is more info: https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/faq.html#ipad
Looking to home school my children. Is Time4Learning accredited?
Hi Maggie! Thanks for your interest. We’re often asked if Time4learning is accredited. The short answer is ‘no,’ but the longer answer is worth understanding. Accreditation is a form of credentialing that applies to schools. Accreditation addresses issues such as teacher:student ratios, number of computers in the media center, number of teachers holding advanced degrees, curriculum used, and so on. Because Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us. However, the curriculum offered by Time4Learning is used at many accredited schools across the United States, so you can be assured that it is educationally rigorous.
Can I pick Just 1-2 subjects for my child to do online or do I need to do the whole package in order to do time4learning? Thanks
Hi Lauren! Time4Learning is a curriculum that families can tailor around their educational needs. You have total control! While the low monthly membership cost remains the same (giving you access to everything we have to offer), you can pick and choose what subjects you complete. 🙂
How long are each individual class
Hi Judy! Since Time4Learning is student-paced, how long each activity takes will vary by student. The average amount of time spent on T4L activities each day could be anywhere between 30 mins to 4 hours, depending on the grade level of the student.
The subject material/courses for the most part, are intended to be full year courses. But again, being student paced, that could vary. 🙂
Please let us know if you have additional questions!
do you provide all the work and do the grading or how does that all work?
Hi Traci! All of the instruction is online and Time4Learning takes care of scoring quizzes, tests, and scored activities for you! 🙂 Here is a little more info on how we work: https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/how-it-works.html
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have additional questions!
Hi, my son has special needs (ASD) – he’s higher functioning. Do you have a program for special needs children? And is there any in-person instruction?
Hi Janis! While we don’t have a separate curriculum for students with special needs, we have many special needs families that use Time4Learning successfully! Here is a page that could be a good resource for you: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/autism/
We also have a dedicated community on Facebook for T4L families with special needs, which could prove to be helpful for you as well. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Time4LearningSpecialNeedsFamilies
There is no in-person or live instruction. T4L members are free to login and complete assignments on their own time, and at their own pace. 🙂
Good evening, is science experiments, learning to use a microscope, etc. part of the curriculum?
Hi Alice! We do provide some ideas for hands-on projects in our elementary science activities. Our middle school and high school science courses also have some virtual labs that students can complete!
You can check out our science curriculum overview here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/science.html 🙂
HI, is this program all on line or are there workbooks as well?
Hi Cristi! Time4Learning is an online curriculum. Depending on your students’ grade levels and the subjects they are studying, we do have some resource worksheets you can print out. These are optional, and can be used for practice/reinforcement. 🙂
So the students have to login and is there a teacher waiting on them to start the lessons or do they just watch the lessons at their own pace?
Hi Megan! Each of your students have their own login, and they work at their own pace! 🙂 Since we are a curriculum and not a school, there are no teachers or set times that your children have to be online. Our instruction is pre-recorded. Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out to our customer support team if you have additional questions or need help getting started. https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
What if we feel our child is not at the same grade level in all subjects? I have a son with Down syndrome but this issue could be the same for typical kids.
Hi cc! Time4Learning is SO flexible, and is an excellent resource for families in a situation such as yours. With T4L, parents can set each subject at a different grade level, and can make changes to those grade levels as often as necessary. So not only can you set them differently, your student can progress at different speeds. If they wrap up one subject before another, you can go ahead and change just that subject, without any pressure to complete everything at the same time. 🙂
Is Time4Learning going to be enough for my kids in it’s self? Or do you recommend supplemental materials be used as well?
Hi Kasey! Here’s a blog post that might be able to answer your question! 🙂 https://www.time4learning.com/blog/experienced-homeschooler/is-time4learning-a-complete-curriculum/
We’d also like to invite you to join our active Facebook community for Time4Learning Families. It’s a great way to connect with other T4L members and homeschoolers! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Time4LearningFamilies
Hola estoy viendo su programa y tengo una duda. Los materiales o libros que se usas son todos en linea o hay una opcion de tenerlos impresos?
El plan de estudios está todo en línea.
No hay libros o materiales que se envían.
Podrá imprimir hojas de trabajo y claves de respuestas.
Cada estudiante obtiene un inicio de sesión seguro individual en el sitio web de Time4Learning para que pueda acceder a él desde cualquier computadora en cualquier momento. No hay CDs ni software para instalar en los ordenadores de los usuarios.
I am interested in letting my children homeschool but I really don’t know how to get started the prices that is listed will that be the price every month or will they change?Will there be classes online for them to take if not would that be an option.How long are the course tradional school is aug-june how long would this school be and how is the next grade determined
Hi Lisa! The price listed for Time4Learning is per month. We are an online curriculum not a school, so parents set their school year based on their needs and schedules. You can follow a traditional school calendar, school year-round, or make your own schedule. 🙂 Parents determine if their students are ready for the next grade, and can change grade levels any time!
Do you all offer credits?
Hi Heather! Thanks for your interest. Since we are a curriculum and not a school, we don’t assign credits. The homeschool parent (the teacher of record in a homeschool) will issue/assign credits. Our automated reports can help you determine time spent for credit issuance.
Here’s a good resource to learn more about credits: https://letshomeschoolhighschool.com/2013/08/10/guide-high-school-credits-homeschool/
Is this one of South Carolina’s accredited homeschool programs? Can I start this Monday? Also, can you receive a diploma using Time for Learning?
Hi Amy. Accreditation applies to institutions like virtual schools or a brick-and-mortar school. Since Time4Learning is a curriculum, and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us.
You can start Time4Learning any time you’re ready, and since homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, the homeschool parent issues the diploma. 🙂
Is time4learning common core based
Hi Denise! The Time4Learning program is designed to correlate to all state standards, and uses a variety of teaching styles to provide for the requirements and preferences of students across the US and beyond. The teaching approach used in some activities might appear similar to common core methods, while many others will not. We have not made changes to our curriculum to align specifically with common core. We do not participate in any common core practices like data tracking. The program provides parents a wide variety of lessons with the flexibility to use the materials as they need.
Great info loving watching you guys grow
Thank you so much, Belle! 🙂
Need it on amazon fire 7 tablet
Hi Amber, thanks for your feedback!
I have used the Time4Learning Program for the past 4 years and it’s “Awesome”. I would not change any thing about it.
Thanks for being a valued member, Stella, and for taking the time to stop by and comment! 🙂
Is this program online for kids that are special needs?
Hi Jill! Time4Learning’s online curriculum has been successful for many families who have children with learning challenges/special needs. Here are a couple of links that could be helpful for you:
https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/
https://www.time4learning.com/blog/special-needsgifted/special-needs-and-time4learning/
We also have a special needs board on our parent forum (https://www.time4learning.net/forum/special-needs/) and a Facebook group for Time4Learning Special Needs Families (https://www.facebook.com/groups/175459356331405/).
If you’d like further information, or need additional help, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 🙂
My child is in honors classes at school now. Could she continue at those?
Hi Sonya! Honors classes usually mean that the subject material is more advanced and completed at a faster pace than regular classes. With homeschooling, you can tailor your high school classes to challenge your student as they need.
Is there a program that helps you to know what grade level to place your child in
Hi Carolyn. Time4Learning’s flexibility allows you place your child in whatever grade you think they should be in, changing it as you need. In grades K-8, students automatically have access to a grade below and a grade above their placed grade. In your parent dashboard, you can change grades easily and even set specific subjects to different grades, tailoring the curriculum to your needs. This page has some good tips for building a homeschool curriculum: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum.htm
Please feel free to contact us if we can provide any additional help! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I am considering putting my advanced kids in T4L, and am concerned about them only being able to access one grade ahead. Could I place my first grader in second grade, so he can access grades 1-3, or are they placed automatically? What do I do if he needs higher curriculum in a subject than we can access? (My oldest was at a fifth grade reading level in kindergarten. My first grader reads 3rd grade books for fun, but I have not actually assessed his level yet. We have never officially homeschooled before, and his K teacher did not check/share his level with me.)
Hi Holly! Thanks for your interest! When you sign up, you’ll select a grade level and the system will automatically place your student in that grade across all subjects. Once your account is created though, you can go in and change each subject to a different grade level if you need to (and you can make grade level changes as often as you need, so you’re never locked into anything!). 🙂
If you have additional questions or need help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php